Hydrochloric Acid → Methyl 4-chloro-2-hydroxybenzoate

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Reaction Steps

Hydrogen chloride gas is bubbled into a mixture of 4-chlorosalicylic acid (100 g, 0.579 mol) in methanol while maintaining the temperature at 45°-50° C. The reaction mixture is then stirred at room temperature for several hours, concentrated in vacuo and extracted with ether. The combined organic extracts are washed sequentially with brine, saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to obtain an amber oil. The oil is distilled under reduced pressure to give the title product as a colorless oil which is identified by NMR spectral analyses.

Provenance & Evidence